Monday, August 06, 2007

When I have a little one who is just not interested in food at midday, I fix a Surprise Lunch. Similar to Japanese bento in concept (the concept being that a child will eat food that is cute), but easier to prepare, Surprise Lunches always work. Start by sending the child out of the room to cover their eyes, and don't let them peek until the plate is in front of them.

Use tiny dishes if you have them--I've recently been picking up little restaurant butter dishes at the thrift store; they're perfect. For food, I rarely use anything special or different from the child's usual food. Here Daisy's lunch is a peanut butter sandwich cut up, a few pretzels, a few cherries, and oh joy, four chocolate chips right on the plate. A tiny bowl of yogurt in the center of the plate, for dipping fruit, is nice too.

But look at the symmetry and the design: what toddler wouldn't want to eat that! (Food styling credit to Giles today, as well as the usual photography.)

8 comments:

That is a GREAT idea! I have a 2 year-old who is going through a picky eater phase. The challenge for me becomes helping him realize that he needs to eat what he's served and he doesn't get to place an order as if this is a restaurant, while at the same time not turning every mealtime into a battle of wills. Having a 5 year-old who has gone through that phase and is on the other side definitely helps to give me perspective--"this too shall pass." But I appreciate your idea so much, and I plan to try it soon. Thanks!

Thank you for the reminder. I used to provide fun lunches like that for my older children but it has been many, many years since I've raised a toddler and my old and addled brain has forgotten tricks like that. She'll love her lunch today.

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Photography

Photography is an important part of life at my house. Photos that appear here are taken by Giles, by the Composer, and by me. Giles is a real, paid photographer, and he uses a Sony Alpha. Most of the photography prior to September 2008 is his. Since then I have done most of the shooting and I use a Konica Minolta. Additionally, the Composer offers me nice shots on occasion, often from his little Canon point and shoot. I've given up trying to note who's done what. Thanks for your interest!